A tension leg offshore wind turbine system

Abstract

The present application relates to offshore wind turbine technical field, specifically to a kind of tension leg offshore wind turbine system, including high-pressure gas adjusting device, auxiliary installation platform, tension leg, wind turbine assembly, the auxiliary installation platform is connected with the tension leg, and for in advance temporarily fixed the tension leg, the wind turbine assembly is connected with the tension leg, the wind turbine assembly includes platform column, crossbeam, diagonal brace, wind turbine tower, the lateral surface of the platform column outside is spaced apart and provided with multiple crossbeams, the diagonal brace is used to connect the crossbeam with the platform column, the wind turbine tower is installed in the top of the platform column, the bottom of the platform column is open structure and directly communicated with seawater to form water cavity, the platform column is internally provided with high-pressure gas adjusting device, for injecting gas to the inside of the platform column to form high-pressure air plug with seawater to generate damping effect, the present application can effectively improve the fatigue life of tension leg structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of offshore wind turbine technology, and specifically to a tension leg offshore wind turbine system. Background Technology

[0002] Offshore wind turbines are large-scale power generation devices installed in the marine environment. They capture offshore wind energy and convert it into electrical energy. They are the core component of offshore wind power systems. During installation, the floating platform is the core basic structure supporting the offshore wind turbine. Specifically, the bottom of the floating platform is equipped with multiple tension legs, which makes it widely used due to its excellent motion stability and compact mooring range.

[0003] However, when existing floating platforms control heave, roll, and pitch using tension legs, the inherent period is usually compressed to less than 3 seconds, resulting in prominent high-frequency resonance and significantly exacerbating fatigue damage to the platform structure and tension legs. In addition, traditional offshore installation requires wind turbine hoisting and tension leg connection at sea, which is inefficient and risky, hindering the construction progress of large-scale wind farms. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a tension leg offshore wind turbine system with air damping effect and offshore installation auxiliary platform, so as to improve the fatigue life of the platform tension leg and structure.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] This invention provides a tension leg offshore wind turbine system, comprising: a high-pressure gas regulating device, an auxiliary installation platform, a tension leg, and a wind turbine assembly;

[0007] The auxiliary installation platform is engaged with the tension leg during offshore installation and is used to temporarily fix the tension leg in advance. The wind turbine assembly is connected to the tension leg.

[0008] The wind turbine assembly includes a platform column, crossbeams, diagonal braces, and a wind turbine tower. Multiple crossbeams are spaced apart on the outer periphery of the platform column, and each crossbeam is equipped with a corresponding diagonal brace. The diagonal brace is used to connect the crossbeams to the platform column. The wind turbine tower is installed on the top of the platform column. The bottom of the platform column has an open structure and is directly connected to seawater to form a water cavity. The high-pressure gas regulating device is located inside the platform column and is used to inject gas into the platform column to form a high-pressure air plug with the seawater.

[0009] The high-pressure gas regulating device includes a gas transmission component and a control unit. Both the gas transmission component and the control unit are located inside the platform column. The control unit is signal-connected to the gas transmission component and is used to drive the gas transmission component to regulate the pressure inside the high-pressure air plug.

[0010] In some embodiments, the sea level inside the platform column is lower than the sea level outside the platform column.

[0011] In some embodiments, the auxiliary installation platform has a C-shaped positioning groove, and there are multiple C-shaped positioning grooves. The tension leg is provided with multiple snap-fit ​​ends that engage with the C-shaped positioning grooves. Each C-shaped positioning groove is provided with one snap-fit ​​end.

[0012] In some embodiments, the number of C-shaped positioning slots is three.

[0013] In some embodiments, the C-shaped positioning groove is also used to accommodate the crossbeam, and when the crossbeam is located inside the C-shaped positioning groove, the crossbeam is connected to the tension leg.

[0014] In some embodiments, a detachable temporary buoy for marine transport is mounted on the crossbeam.

[0015] In some embodiments, the pressure regulation range of the high-pressure gas regulating device is 1-10 times atmospheric pressure.

[0016] In some embodiments, the temporary pontoon is provided with a ballast water tank, which adjusts the draft of the wind turbine assembly by adjusting the amount of water inside the ballast water tank.

[0017] In some embodiments, the platform columns and beams are an integral structure.

[0018] Furthermore, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0019] This invention adds a platform column with a bottom opening structure and a high-pressure gas regulating device installed on the platform column. The high-pressure gas regulating device, the platform column, and the seawater work together to form an adjustable high-pressure air plug. At the same time, the high-pressure air plug can change the height difference between the seawater level inside and outside the column by the amount of gas injected by the high-pressure gas regulating device, thereby changing the pressure value inside the high-pressure air plug and generating an adaptive gas-liquid damping effect, effectively suppressing high-frequency resonance and effectively improving the fatigue life of the tension leg structure.

[0020] Furthermore, the addition of an auxiliary installation platform, which is used to temporarily fix the tension leg, allows the present invention to concentrate resources on the installation of the tension leg first, and then complete the placement of the wind turbine platform and connection of the tension leg in batches later. The wind turbine can also be installed at the dock, which greatly reduces the workload of offshore installation, improves the efficiency of offshore operations, and reduces the cost of offshore installation. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a front view of the overall structure of the tension leg offshore wind turbine system provided by the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a top view of the overall structure of the tension leg offshore wind turbine system provided by the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the coordination of the auxiliary installation platform, tension leg, and wind turbine components in the tension leg offshore wind turbine system provided by the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 A rear view showing the auxiliary installation platform, tension leg, and wind turbine components working together in the tension leg offshore wind turbine system provided by the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrating the connection process between the auxiliary installation platform and the tension leg in the tension leg offshore wind turbine system provided by the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the installation of temporary floats on the turbine components of the tension leg offshore wind turbine system provided by the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the docking and detachment process between the wind turbine component and the tension leg in the auxiliary installation platform of the tension leg offshore wind turbine system provided by the present invention.

[0028] In the diagram: 1-Platform column, 2-Wind turbine tower, 3-External sea level, 4-Internal sea level, 5-High-pressure air plug, 6-Crossbeam, 7-Diagonal brace, 8-Tension leg, 9-Auxiliary installation platform, 10-C-type positioning groove, 11-Temperature pontoon. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise stated, " / " means "or", for example, A / B can mean A or B; "and / or" in the text is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can mean: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. In addition, in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, "multiple" means two or more. Hereinafter, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as implying or suggesting relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0030] like Figures 1-7 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a tension leg offshore wind turbine system, including: a high-pressure gas regulating device, an auxiliary installation platform 9, a tension leg 8, and a wind turbine assembly;

[0031] The auxiliary installation platform 9 is snapped into the tension leg 8 during offshore installation and is used to temporarily fix the tension leg 8 in advance. The wind turbine assembly is connected to the tension leg 8.

[0032] The wind turbine assembly includes a platform column 1, crossbeams 6, diagonal braces 7, and a wind turbine tower 2. Multiple crossbeams 6 are spaced apart on the outer circumference of the platform column 1, with each crossbeam 6 corresponding to a diagonal brace 7. The diagonal brace 7 connects the crossbeam 6 to the platform column 1. The wind turbine tower 2 is installed on top of the platform column 1. The bottom of the platform column 1 has an open structure that directly connects to seawater, forming a water cavity. A high-pressure gas regulating device is located inside the platform column 1, used to inject air into the platform column 1 to form a high-pressure air plug 5 with the seawater, thus producing a shock-absorbing effect. In the above structure, three crossbeams 6 are welded at 120° intervals on the outer circumference of the platform column 1. It is worth noting that the number of crossbeams 6 can be changed according to actual needs, but the angle between any two adjacent crossbeams 6 is the same. Each crossbeam 6 is rigidly connected to the column via the diagonal brace 7, improving the overall stability of the device.

[0033] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the high-pressure gas regulating device includes a gas transmission component and a regulating unit. Both the gas transmission component and the regulating unit are disposed inside the platform column 1. The regulating unit is signal-connected to the gas transmission component and is used to drive the gas transmission component to regulate the pressure inside the high-pressure air plug. However, the high-pressure gas regulating device is not shown in the figure. Those skilled in the art are capable of using gas transmission components and regulating units commonly found in the prior art. For example, the gas transmission component can be a compressor, an air pump, etc., and the regulating unit can be a unit module composed of a pressure regulator, a flow controller, a solenoid valve, etc. The present invention does not specifically limit or elaborate on these modifications and variations, but these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents. The present invention also intends to include these modifications and variations. In the above structure, when the overall draft of the present invention is small, the regulating unit controls the gas transmission component to discharge the gas inside the high-pressure air plug, thereby reducing the pressure inside the high-pressure air plug. Specifically, the regulating unit controls the gas transmission component to extract the gas inside the high-pressure air plug 5. The high-pressure air plug 5 is brought to the outside, thus reducing the volume of the cavity formed by the high-pressure air plug 5. Specifically, the vertical height of the cavity of the high-pressure air plug 5 is reduced, causing the entire device to sink to achieve a suitable draft. When the draft of the entire device is greater, the control unit controls the gas transmission component to inject gas into the high-pressure air plug, thereby increasing the internal pressure. Specifically, the control unit controls the gas transmission component to input external gas into the high-pressure air plug 5, thus increasing the volume of the cavity formed by the high-pressure air plug 5. This increases the vertical height of the cavity of the high-pressure air plug 5, causing the entire device to float to achieve a suitable draft. With this design, on the one hand, the air cavity in the middle of the high-pressure air plug can buffer the vibration caused by external influences during use, achieving a shock absorption effect. On the other hand, the control unit can dynamically adjust the atmospheric pressure to ensure the entire device reaches a suitable draft. The specific adjustment process is a common technique in the field and will not be described in detail here.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the sea level 4 inside the platform column 1 is lower than the sea level 3 outside the platform column 1. The difference in water level between the sea level 4 inside the platform column 1 and the sea level 3 outside the platform column 1 enhances the gas-liquid damping effect of the high-pressure air plug 5, improves the buffering efficiency of the gas piston against wave impact, and further suppresses the platform resonance phenomenon.

[0035] In this embodiment, the pressure adjustment range of the high-pressure gas regulating device is 1-10 times the atmospheric pressure. The bottom of the platform column 1 is not sealed and is connected to the seawater. After the platform column 1 is connected to the pre-installed tension leg 8, high-pressure gas is injected from the top of the platform column 1 to reach 10 atmospheres, thereby forming a high-pressure gas piston. If the draft is small, the pressure is reduced accordingly to ensure that there is a sealing water plug at the bottom. When the fan is running, the pressure and volume of the high-pressure air plug 5 in the column can be adjusted according to the sea conditions and fan power changes to achieve the best shock absorption effect.

[0036] In one possible platform installation method, the auxiliary installation platform 9 has multiple C-shaped positioning slots 10, and the tension leg 8 is provided with multiple snap-fit ​​ends that engage with the C-shaped positioning slots 10. Each C-shaped positioning slot 10 is provided with one snap-fit ​​end. The design of the engagement between the C-shaped positioning slot 10 and the snap-fit ​​end of the tension leg 8 enables the tension leg 8 to be quickly positioned and locked onto the auxiliary installation platform 9, realizing the batch pre-installation of the tension leg 8 array and significantly reducing the time required for offshore operations.

[0037] In one possible implementation, there are three C-shaped positioning slots 10, and the layout of the three C-shaped positioning slots 10 is completely matched with the number of crossbeams 6 in the wind turbine assembly, ensuring accurate positioning when the wind turbine assembly is docked and avoiding the need for adjustment procedures at sea.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the C-shaped positioning slot 10 is also used to accommodate the crossbeam 6, and when the crossbeam 6 is located inside the C-shaped positioning slot 10, the crossbeam 6 is connected to the tension leg 8. A detachable temporary buoy 11 for marine transport is installed on the crossbeam 6. The temporary buoy 11 has a ballast water tank inside, and the draft of the wind turbine assembly is adjusted by regulating the amount of water inside the ballast water tank. During offshore installation, the tension legs 8 can be installed in batches using an auxiliary installation platform 9, and the tension legs 8 are temporarily fixed to the bottom of the three C-shaped positioning slots 10 of the auxiliary installation platform 9, such as... Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, to reduce the amount of offshore work during wind turbine installation, this invention installs six temporary buoys 11 on the crossbeam 6. The specific number can be changed according to actual needs. In specific operations, the wind turbine on the wind turbine tower 2 can be pre-installed at the dock, and then the wind turbine and wind turbine components are towed to the target sea area. In the final stage, tugboats push the wind turbine components from behind, so that the three positioning columns are all inserted into the C-shaped positioning slots 10 of the auxiliary installation platform 9. The waterline of the wind turbine components is adjusted by the ballast water of the temporary buoys 11, so that the wind turbine components float as a whole. Figure 7As shown, after the crossbeam 6 floats up, it contacts the upper part of the C-shaped positioning groove 10. The buoyancy generated by the ballast water is adjusted by the temporary buoy 11 to lift the auxiliary installation platform 9, so that the two structures are stably connected without relative displacement. Then, the tension leg 8 is connected to the wind turbine assembly, and then the fixing constraint of the auxiliary installation platform 9 on the tension leg 8 is released. Then, the ballast water of the temporary buoy 11 is adjusted to restore the draft of the wind turbine assembly to its original state, so that the crossbeam 6 and the C-shaped positioning groove 10 are no longer in contact. Finally, the auxiliary installation platform 9 is towed away, the temporary buoy 11 is disassembled, the length of the tension leg 8 is adjusted, and the installation of the floating wind turbine assembly is completed. The design of the C-shaped positioning groove 10 to accommodate the crossbeam 6 allows the platform column 1 to be embedded in the slot and limit the crossbeam 6. By adjusting the draft of the buoy 11, a rigid connection between the auxiliary platform and the wind turbine assembly can be achieved, ensuring the stability of the overall structure when the tension leg 8 is connected, and reducing the dependence on the ship during the docking process.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the platform column 1 and the crossbeam 6 are an integrated structure. This integrated structure enhances the overall rigidity, reduces the risk of deformation under wave loads, and extends the service life of the platform.

[0040] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this invention and their equivalents, this invention also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A tension leg offshore wind turbine system, characterized in that, include: High-pressure gas regulating device, auxiliary installation platform, tension leg, fan assembly; The auxiliary installation platform is engaged with the tension leg during offshore installation and is used to temporarily fix the tension leg in advance. The wind turbine assembly is connected to the tension leg. The wind turbine assembly includes a platform column, crossbeams, diagonal braces, and a wind turbine tower. Multiple crossbeams are spaced apart on the outer periphery of the platform column, and each crossbeam is equipped with a corresponding diagonal brace. The diagonal brace is used to connect the crossbeams to the platform column. The wind turbine tower is installed on the top of the platform column. The bottom of the platform column has an open structure and is directly connected to seawater to form a water cavity. The high-pressure gas regulating device is located inside the platform column and is used to inject gas into the platform column to form a high-pressure air plug with the seawater. The high-pressure gas regulating device includes a gas transmission component and a control unit. Both the gas transmission component and the control unit are located inside the platform column. The control unit is signal-connected to the gas transmission component and is used to drive the gas transmission component to regulate the pressure inside the high-pressure air plug.

2. The tension leg offshore wind turbine system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sea level inside the platform pillar is lower than the sea level outside the platform pillar.

3. The tension leg offshore wind turbine system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The auxiliary installation platform has multiple C-shaped positioning slots, and the tension leg is provided with multiple snap-fit ​​ends that engage with the C-shaped positioning slots. Each C-shaped positioning slot is provided with one snap-fit ​​end.

4. The tension leg offshore wind turbine system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The number of C-shaped positioning slots is three.

5. The tension leg offshore wind turbine system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The C-shaped positioning groove is also used to accommodate the crossbeam, and when the crossbeam is located inside the C-shaped positioning groove, the crossbeam is connected to the tension leg.

6. The tension leg offshore wind turbine system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The crossbeam is equipped with a detachable temporary buoy for marine transport.

7. The tension leg offshore wind turbine system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure regulation range of the high-pressure gas regulating device is 1-10 times atmospheric pressure.

8. The tension leg offshore wind turbine system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The temporary pontoon is equipped with a ballast water tank, and the draft of the wind turbine assembly can be adjusted by regulating the amount of water inside the ballast water tank.

9. The tension leg offshore wind turbine system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The platform's columns and beams are an integral structure.

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